§ Mr. Rhodri MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions written directions have been sought by permanent secretaries and other accounting officers in the past five years; in what contexts; and on what dates. [19213]
§ Mr. SpellarNo formal directions to MOD accounting officers have been sought or given since 1 May 1997. Under the previous administration, one direction was given within the past five years, in March 1995 in the context of the procurement of medium support helicopters for the Royal Air Force.